However, much more needs to be done, including:
more attention to victim support; counselling; same sex interviews; translators; and most importantly no threat of immediate removal.
Britain needs to catch up with other EU countries and offer real support services to these women including:
· A reflection period to enable the women to decide whether she wants to testify against the trafficker
· Advice (in her mother tongue) and support from a non state advisory centre who can help in her dealings with authorities
· Safe accommodation, socio-psychological and medical care.
While waiting for the review of the sex offences bill, a change in sentencing guidelines is needed to include “the commercial sexual exploitation of trafficked victims” as an aggravating factor. This would permit judges to impose longer custodial sentences. The Greens would also like to see assets confiscated from traffickers and pimps to be ploughed back into victim support.
Jenny who is also a Green Party London Assembly Member will be hosting a conference on the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation later this year.
Jenny says “Considering that Barbara Roche, then Home Office Minister, first announced the government would provide more help for these vulnerable women in 2000, this announcement is welcome though long overdue and still desperately lacking in adequacy.
The inherent policy contradiction between the police and the immigration service, where the police see a victim of crime and the immigration service see an illegal immigrant who should be removed from the UK, is seriously impeding the help and support that can be given to these women. The practice of immediate removal must stop now and Britain needs to live up to its commitment to the UN protocol and the EU framework decision and start helping these women whom we are currently failing so badly.”
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
In 2001 the Met’s Clubs and vice unit identified criminal assets of up to £60M. Under current legislation monies confiscated goes to the treasury. The confiscating police service should be able to retain these funds with a substantial part of them ploughed back into victim support.